2018 Lexus NX Overview

If there’s one thing that Lexus sorely needed to rocket to the top of luxury vehicle sales, it was a small crossover. The popular RX has been the brand’s best-selling model basically since its introduction, and with the NX (first introduced in 2018), the race was on.

Three years into its run, the NX gets some styling and tech tweaks – not to mention an upgraded suspension, something it sorely needed – to continue the onslaught of angular SUVs on American roads. The changes to the 2018 NX are highlighted below.

Changes to the 2018 NX:

Rear fascia tweaks including new taillights and a lower rear bumper design

Interior design changes including revised climate control switches

New optional 10.3-inch infotainment system to replace outgoing 7-inch version

Faster-charging USB ports in center console

Foot-activated lift gate functionality

New suspension components and revised handling tuning

Available adaptive suspension

Lexus Safety System + now standard, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control

What We Think

The first-generation NX has been a bit of a let-down, lacking the superior driving dynamics and refinement of its more established (read: German) competitors. However, with revisions to the standard equipment and suspension of both the turbocharged (NX 200t) and hybrid (NX 300h) models, Lexus seems to have addressed the majority of customer pain points, and the NX should continue to sell strongly as ever in the midst of the growing SUV craze.